10 replies to this topic

[lucid]

This is not a discussion of a Nootropic, but i figured that this was the best group to post this to. Recently I watched the short clip on better humans about a system called "photo-reading". http://video.google....6...77085&hl=en This apparently is a scam from what I can gather from the discussion at wiki and then at other forums. (http://en.wikipedia....ki/Photoreading) However, reading about this wet my interest for speed reading in general.

The wikipedia community seems to have a more positive outlook on speed reading than 'photo-reading':

Learning speed reading techniques is similar to learning a foreign language. It is more difficult when the student is older and easier when they are younger. It takes practice. Some benefits can be seen right away but true speed reading abilities develop over time and after practicing frequently. Many people give up before they have mastered the technique. Many also complain that comprehension is reduced. Comprehension is re-learned and takes time. When a child learns to read the first time, they have little comprehension. After years of reading, the child will develop comprehension. The average person only has a 50% to 70% comprehension rate reading 250 words per minute. Speed readers may start at zero percent and build to 50% after several months while building speed from 600 to 1000 words per minute. Comprehension will continue to improve as speed reading techniques are practiced. One of the benefits of speed reading is the ability to re-read information. With 50% comprehension, a reader can re-read material two or three times thereby gaining more comprehension than they would have with a single normal reading pace read through which would have taken much longer.

Here is a webpage with various software products rated, it gives perfect ratings for one product however amazon also shows favorable ratings for it: http://www.4boxrevie...der-review.html
http://www.amazon.co...howViewpoints=1 (amazon)

I'm trying out some of the software tonight, anyone have experience with speed reading?

[spaceistheplace]

I have some experience with speed reading. Learned it a couple of years ago and incorporate some of the techniques. That person is right, comprehension does rebuild over time but it's never quite the same. I prefer to take it slow.

How to read a book by Mortimer J. Adler is a good companion to speed reading. He will give you exercises to be done while reading that will improve comprehension.

[lucid]

I have some experience with speed reading. Learned it a couple of years ago and incorporate some of the techniques. That person is right, comprehension does rebuild over time but it's never quite the same. I prefer to take it slow.

How to read a book by Mortimer J. Adler is a good companion to speed reading. He will give you exercises to be done while reading that will improve comprehension.

Thanks for your comment. I find it taxing to read at 'high-speed' and generally will start losing focus after a pretty short period of time: 20 seconds at which point I will have to 'refocus'. Even so I am not reading very close to 700wpm.

I just used a program called: Speed Reader-X. I enjoyed my first session with it. My first speed test was reading a passage from Alice in Wonderland for which I read at 251 words/minute. If I weren't trying to read quickly, a casual read would probably be around 180 wpm. So apparently it is reasonable for me to hope to get in the 500-700 range after 20 minutes of practice a day for a month or two.

[eldar]

One thing to note is that many speed reading advocates, and books for that matter, strongly emphasize the importance of using a finger as a guide. The purpose is to follow the finger with eyes so that unnecessary eye movement is reduced. This is something that might raise issues when reading from a computer screen.

Of course if it is possible to speed read without any guides, that would be preferable. It is somewhat cumbersome to move the hand around while you read.

Edited by ceth, 20 January 2008 - 12:23 AM.

[Jacovis]

I've got mild inattentive-type ADD and the major thing that helps me absorb information quickly and have the mental energy to burn through pages in books are megadoses of Thiamine (Vitamin B1). I take around 300 mg of Thiamine twice a day (on top of the standard dosage of the LEF mix which includes all the other B Vitamins in reasonably high doses). I am guessing that Sulbutiamine would work in a similar way though I have never tried it as the Thiamine megadoses work so well for me (and also I haven't developed a tolerance for this effect despite using it almost every day for a few years now).

I am not sure if its really an improvement in 'Speed Reading' but it really helps to increase the efficiency of time spent in front of a book/computer - before I used the Thiamine megadoses I would stop and start very often and could not properly finish reading any piece of work which was lengthy. Other nootropics/supplements that I've tried haven't done nearly as much for my reading...

Anyway your mileage may vary of course!

[mystery]

visionary7903, interesting. I'll give it a try. I have problems absorbing information. I've always had difficulty with learning. I also feel I have ADHD-PI symptoms.

Was it you that linked this article: http://www.antiaging...extract/add.htm ?

Anyway, I've tried photo reading. The program has several steps, and the photo reading step is only one part of it. I think there are other very useful ideas regardless of whether "photo reading" is possible. What's key is the program puts emphasis on purpose for reading, and being more selective in what is read. Why read a chapter in a book that will not help you in any way? The program also includes going through reading material multiple times. I think the basis for the program is not necessarily "photo reading."

The problem I see with most speed reading programs is they emphasize absorbing massive amounts of information like a computer methodically. Your brain isn't a super computer, and you don't integrate information in the same way. IMO it helps instead to focus more on what is important. Scanning is very useful for doing this (which we all do anyway).

[edward]

I have some experience with speed reading. Learned it a couple of years ago and incorporate some of the techniques. That person is right, comprehension does rebuild over time but it's never quite the same. I prefer to take it slow.

How to read a book by Mortimer J. Adler is a good companion to speed reading. He will give you exercises to be done while reading that will improve comprehension.

Thanks for your comment. I find it taxing to read at 'high-speed' and generally will start losing focus after a pretty short period of time: 20 seconds at which point I will have to 'refocus'. Even so I am not reading very close to 700wpm.

I just used a program called: Speed Reader-X. I enjoyed my first session with it. My first speed test was reading a passage from Alice in Wonderland for which I read at 251 words/minute. If I weren't trying to read quickly, a casual read would probably be around 180 wpm. So apparently it is reasonable for me to hope to get in the 500-700 range after 20 minutes of practice a day for a month or two.

How is the speed reading coming along? I looked into speed reading a while back when I had a lot of stuff to read and I abandoned it as I found it was better for comprehension just to take the time and slog through at slower speeds. I just got a copy of Speed Reader X though and I am going to try it again, the ratings you posted made me think about giving speed reading another shot . Maybe this program will be better.

[lucid]

How is the speed reading coming along? I looked into speed reading a while back when I had a lot of stuff to read and I abandoned it as I found it was better for comprehension just to take the time and slog through at slower speeds. I just got a copy of Speed Reader X though and I am going to try it again, the ratings you posted made me think about giving speed reading another shot . Maybe this program will be better.

It has been going pretty good. I have been doing it about once every other day. The program highlights words as you are supposed to read them which really helps keep you moving. Overall I really like the program. I don't think that you get the benefits overnight, however I feel that if I keep this up for a month or so it could have some reasonably dramatic effects. Its definitely worth trying out.

[Rags847]

I regard speed-reading more as skimming vs reading, per se, but I find it useful.
The mind picks up a lot even though you aren't comprehending everything.
It breaks-in a book for me. Makes it less intimidating.
Skim it once and to go through it more thoroughly afterwards on the 2nd pass is a lot easier than opening a dense book and taking it apart arduously from page 1. That can easily become overwhelming and tedious.
Skim it once first and it may capture your interest vs seem boring and long-winded.
Also, then you can decide if it is even worth a 2nd pass and a careful reading.

So, I find skimming/speed reading useful for a first pass, but I know it isn't the same as a careful reading - I know I'm not comprehending everything and making all the connections.

A good discussion of this and other reading techniques can be found in the classic:
How to Read a Book (A Touchstone Book) (Paperback)
by Mortimer J. Adler (Author), Charles Van Doren (Author)
http://www.amazon.co...s...3224&sr=8-2

Edited by Rags847, 08 February 2008 - 08:45 PM.

[Ghostrider]

My personal thought on the subject is if you have to speed read, then just buy the Cliff Notes version. When I was younger, I tried learning speed reading in order to save time with homework. I never was able to get it to work. Maybe for light stuff, stuff that I did not want to read anyway, it was ok, but for anything dense - technical material, forget it. That said, speed reading is encouraged by standardized tests such as the SAT or GRE, but that's the only time I have needed to read fast at the expense of comprehension.

[playground]

A good discussion of this and other reading techniques can be found in the classic:
How to Read a Book (A Touchstone Book) (Paperback)
by Mortimer J. Adler (Author), Charles Van Doren (Author)
http://www.amazon.co...s...3224&sr=8-2

 

To save you all...  some money....

 

"How to  Read a Book" is available for free, from this link:

http://mathscinotes....Read-A-Book.pdf